Merry Christmas

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Merry Christmas everyone. We trust you had a blessed celebration of Jesus' birth!

It was a fun and busy Christmas season for us. We had a lot of fun with plenty of parties and celebration. We hosted one Christmas party and attended five others in the course of two weeks.

Landon had his first ever Christmas program (at his pre-K). Here he is with his two teachers, Miss Miller and Mrs. Osborn. (Note that he tucked in his sweater because he was so proud of his new-to-him belt and wanted everyone to see he was wearing it.)



And this is him before the program with his "best friend," Peyton and, of course, with his mommy...




And our little performer seemed to really enjoy putting on a performance.



We hosted our Christmas party for the church class we co-teach, First5, and it included a white elephant gift exchange. As usual, the gag gifts ranged from the terrible re-gift to the hilarious to the provocative. Photos were taken of each couple in front of the Christmas tree, including us...



Kathryn's older sister, Karen, and her family spent a few days with us around Christmas during their move from Austin, TX to San Diego. Our boys were at least as excited to have their dog, Bear, with us as they were to have their cousins, aunt, and uncle.

Our church had a Christmas program with trucked-in snow hills for sledding, horse-drawn hay rides, and lots of games and food. We also attended Christmas eve services with Karen and her family. At one point we had four lit candles in the hands of four children ranging from 4-10 years old. Luckily it was only for one song and then they were put out before any fires broke out.

Christmas morning brought much excitement, though not enough excitement to affect our boys' sleep. We finally broke down and woke them up at about 8:30 a.m. when there were no signs of movement! They enjoyed all their gifts with the big hits seeming to be their NASCAR driver shirts, legos vehicles, remote controlled dogs, electric racetrack, and going to the store with Grandma and her cash! On hand for Christmas in addition to our immediate family, were Rick's mom, Kathryn's mom, Kathryn's two sisters, Karen and Kerry, and Karen's family Lee, Elizabeth, and Jonathan. And of course their dog, Bear! Here are a few scenes from Christmas morning:

Landon

Keaton

Hudson

All 3



With Aunt Kerry


Aunt Kerry also organized a "Noodle Hockey" showdown using the pool "noodle" toys as hockey sticks and a ball instead of a puck between our family and Kathryn's sister's family. Well into the game there was a collision between Kathryn's brother-in-law, Lee, and his eight-year old son, Jonathan. Unfortunately the crown of Jonathan's head hit Lee right on the bone above his eye which split his skin open. It was only about one inch but Rick took Lee to Mayo and gave him three stitches. Not exactly the picture we had for the ending of the first ever Noodle Hockey challenge. The important thing was that our Gray family won!

Latest Gray Family Update

For those of you seeing this on Facebook, you can see this in it's original form at our blog here.

It's been way too long since our last family update. So plenty of catching up to do...

The boys had a lot of fun the rest of the summer. We did lots of swimming in the pool and even had a slip and slide set up in the back yard a lot. Here they are in their matching "I Went to Michigan Shirts."



Being home together all summer resulted in nothing but joyful playing together, never any fighting or stealing of each other's toys (ya right!)



One of our neighborhood churches had a fun day for children that we went to. They had fire trucks and police cars. Hudson and Landon got to spray a fire hose. They had blow-up bouncers and water slides as well as a petting zoo. Hudson and Landon also went on little horseback rides (we couldn't talk Keaton into it)...



Kathryn had the boys on a program of one new adventure every week this summer. They went to the Phoenix Children's museum, the Arizona Science Center, the Railroad Park, and of course the Phoenix Zoo...



In August, Hudson started school back up in the first grade. He likes his first grade teacher, Miss Schweikert. At the end of school last year, Kathryn asked Hudson if he preferred any particular first grade teacher and he said Miss Schweikert. But when asked why he wanted her for his teacher, he just shrugged and said, "I don't know." When Kathryn went to the parent teacher meeting before the school year started, however, she found that among the first grade teachers were two women in their 40's and one young, single, blonde: Miss Schweikert. We still don't know for sure that he picked her because he thought she was pretty, but it sure seems suspicious. He's done great in first grade and has started taking his book-writing to a new level - his last two books were fully illustrated and at least 25 pages each (Dog and Bear Become Friends and The Little Panda). Here's Hudson on his first day of school this year...



Landon started pre-K this year at La Casa de Cristo preschool. We've long said "Wait 'till they get a load of Landon..." and it's been true. Landon is Mr. Social and arives at the school campus and walks through greeting all the children around: "Hey, Peyton, how's it goin' today?" He loves pre-K and is doing very well; here he is on his first day of school...



And Keaton is growing like a weed. He's really starting to talk a lot more and put together longer sentences. He's quite a joker and likes to say strange things followed by "I tease!" Of course with his brothers at school, he gets away with more things with Mommy like having big lolly-pops...



Hudson turned seven in September and we had a fun birthday party. He had several friends to Chuck E Cheeses for pizza, cake, and games. He enjoyed the party and opening presents later at home...






In October, it was announced that Rick is being inducted into the Otsego County (MI) Sports Hall of Fame (article here). The induction ceremony will be in February 2010.

Halloween brought lots of fun. Hudson dressed up as a surgeon, Landon as Buzz Lightyear, and Keaton as a Michigan State basketball player (but on the actual Halloween night it was too cold for shorts and a tank top - even in Arizona). We spent the night at a neighborhood church's Harvest Festival where there were lots of games, bouncers, and candy. Here's the family there...



Landon also had a harvest festival at school and they went to a local farm. Here he is in his farmer outfit for school...



Keaton has taken over Hudson's first PowerWheels jeep and turns out to be a good driver. One day he decided to wear his bicycle helmet to go for a drive...



Hudson's school had a pajama and sleeping bag movie night (Monsters versus Aliens) a few weeks ago. Hudson, Landon, and Kathryn had a good time...



As most of you know, Hudson is very into cars. Over the past year he and Landon have gotten very into NASCAR racing. They watch races on DVR and have their favorite drivers. Hudson can even name many of the crew chiefs for the major drivers' teams. So in November, Rick took Hudson and Landon to Phoenix International Raceway for the Checker O'Reilly Auto Parts 500. They took their earplugs and braved the crowds. They sat on the "Hillside" where you bring your own chairs and sit on an elevated area overlooking the track.

The crowd was great with so many people excited to see young boys at the race and trying to make their experience a good one. There were no obnoxious people or drunks as Rick had worried might be the case. And as a bonus, Landon's favorite driver finished first and Hudson's favorite driver finished second!



By about mile 300 of the race, Landon fell fast asleep! Amazing with how noisy it was...



We're all looking forward to Christmas and are thankful for all God's blessings. We appreciate those that have been praying for Rick's sister Bonnie. She received her stem-cell transplant for her Leukemia and is doing very well. They had planned to keep her near the cancer center for 50-100 days but she was able to go home by day 52. So far no problems with graft versus host disease so we're very thankful.

Merry Christmas to all of you and we'll certainly post Christmas pictures in December.

July Update

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OK, OK - so we never got around to a June update, but here goes...

We went to Michigan for the last week of June/beginning of July. Rick and the boys went for a week and Kathryn joined them for the last four days. It was a good time to see family and friends. All of us, especially the boys, enjoyed the farm and cool weather. Rick got together with two of his friends and former college teammates who he hadn't seen in a couple of years - Chris Wooley and David Greenwood. They had a great time catching up.


The boys were attached at the hip to their older cousin Caleb Opper, who is 16. He stayed at Rick's mom's house with them for most of the week. What more could three young boys ask for than an older cousin to take them on 4-wheeler rides, shoot birds and targets with, build forts in the woods with, race cars on X-box with, and more. Here is Landon with Caleb looking over a fort in the woods.


A couple days later, Cassandra (18) and Callie (14) joined them and the boys now were surrounded at all times! Cassandra's friend, Colleen, also came north with them and was very sweet with the boys too.

Callie and Keaton watching a video


Cassandra and Colleen with Keaton


Callie playing with Keaton


Hudson and Landon each got to sleep with Grandma


Take a Grandmother that loves to serve her family with food and a two year old boy known for loving berries and what do you end up with??


Keaton disappeared into the backyard for a while and Rick found him digging in Grandma's garden. This is what he looked like...


And nearly every night Grandma read to the boys at bedtime from "My Bedtime Anytime Story Book."


The Michigan memorial service for Rick's dad was on July 1st. It was a beautiful service that honored him and honored God. Hundreds of people came including some family members that we'd never met or hadn't seen in more than 20 years.

Rick and Kathryn also traveled to Lansing and were able to see Rick's sister Bonnie who had been hospitalized for over 50 days undergoing treatment for her Leukemia and her husband, Steve, who was undergoing treatment for his Lymphoma that was diagnosed during Bonnie's treatment. She was looking much better by then and in fact went home a few days after we saw her.

On the house front, it is under contract and due to close at the end of July. The buyers have already moved in as they asked for early occupancy so they wouldn't have to move twice after closing on their house. It isn't exactly cause for celebration but more of a sigh of relief.

We're doing well and can't believe school is coming soon. Hudson's school begins on August 9th and Landon will be starting pre-K four days per week at La Casa de Christo this year. Both are excited.

Take care all and we hope to hear from you soon.

May Update

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Our computer issues preventing photo downloads have been corrected so let's see if we can catch up on the Gray's doings for the past couple of months...

In March, Rick and Kathryn went to San Diego for one of Rick's meetings while the boys stayed home with grandma (Rick's mom). We went for four days and stayed at the Hotel del Coronado on Coronado Island. We were able to meet up with our next door neighbors who have a yacht there and go for a cruise in San Diego harbor surrounded by dolphins. Here's a photo of Kathryn with John and Donna and their daughters Katelyn and Lauren abord their yacht.


We also were able to visit with our friend Suzanne Swain and her boys, Zac and Josh. Suzanne's husband, Jim, was a resident with Rick and they both came back to Mayo Clinic in Arizona the same year. We ended up being next door neighbors. The Swains moved to Rochester, MN about a year and a half ago. Suzanne and the boys came back on spring break and we had a great visit. As usual, the Gray boys were overjoyed to play with their older friends.


Rick had his 40th birthday in April and Kathryn planned an 80's themed party to combine with the 30th birthday of our friend Stacy Dickerson. Everyone pulled out their best 80's themed gear and had a great time. Here are Kathryn, Stacy Dickerson, and Julie Dickerson in their costumes.


Our boys had a fun Easter egg hunt before church. They found all the eggs (we kept it indoors this year due to a prior year's ant-infestation fiasco) in short order and still haven't eaten all the candy (not big sweet teeth among the Gray boys).


Kathryn and the boys before church on Easter


Rick and the boys before church on Easter


In late April, Rick and Kathryn went to the American Cancer Society Jewel Ball Fundraising Event in Scottsdale. It was quite the gala event with live jazz and dancing as well as the fundraising auction. It was a good time. Here's a photo of us on the red carpet.


Hudson was chosen to play a role in his elementary school's play. He took the role very seriously (as one would expect from our classic firstborn) including the recommendation that he wear a vest for the role. Here is a photo of him on the way to his big debut. He did very well. By the way, the vest is one of Kathryn's...



The next week, Hudson's school put on a "core knowledge" program for parents. Hudson wasn't supposed to play a role (presumably because he was part of the play), but when his classmate called in sick the day before the program, he was asked to memorize her part in case she was out again the day of the program. He looked at the lines once and said he had it down - and he did. The child truly has an amazing memory. Here he is in the program...


And as part of the group program...

Landon has enrolled in pre-K for next fall at a local Christian school. He likes to count as high as he can or say the alphabet and follow it up by saying, "I am soooo ready for pre-K!" He's got quite a personality, still.

But his big adventure last month was the night he decided at dinner to put a corn kernel up his nose "to see what would happen." Rick tried to get him to blow his nose to get it out but in the process just got it pushed up higher. Rick then tried a trick he read about on a medical study to blow through his mouth while holding his opposite nostril closed (it was reported to work on 15/19 children) but that just annoyed him. So Rick took him in to the Emergency Department. They had trouble getting it out and Rick had to go to the OR and get a catheter they use for vascular surgery to bring down to use on Landon. The ER doc called the catheter (Fogerty catheter for you medical folks) a "noodle" to Landon. He told Landon that he and Rick were going to put the "noodle" up his nose to get the corn out. The first try didn't work but it made Landon sputter and spit. When Rick told Landon that they were going to have to try again, Landon said, "But that noodle is POOPIE!!" It came out on the second try.

Here's our corn boy imitating the position of a professional baseball player...


Keaton is getting more and more words going and his still Mr. Independant. Here he is eating breakfast with his brothers...

February Update

Sorry it's been so long since our last update. A lot has gone on and we've had computer problems at home.

Rick's dad continued to deteriorate from his dementia with Lewy Bodies and was admitted to hospice care in early January. He died peacefully with Rick's mom and pastor at his side on January 30th. Rick arrived shortly after his death. We held a memorial service in Arizona and there will be a Michigan memorial when Rick's mom returns in April or May. He was a great man, husband, father, and grandfather. We will greatly miss him but he's left a terrific legacy and he's much better off home with God now.

Hudson reading one of his homemade books to his kindergarten class.


On January 5th Rick had urgent surgery for a herniated disk. He had terrible leg pain - he couldn't walk or sit at all. Epidural steroid injections and the like didn't help at all. But thankfully he awoke from the operation pain-free and had remained so. He had to take two weeks off from work but is back at it full force. He had developed calf weakness from the herniation for which he's doing rehab. It's expected to come back in a few months with rehab.

Last week all three boys had a 24-hour flu, but each of them has recovered. Rick and Kathryn each had a day of feeling badly, but no throwing up for them. Rick's mom had a similar day like that. It happened while Rick's sister, Bonnie, was visiting from Michigan and she got hit with it too.

It was great to have Bonnie here. She was a real support to Rick's mom and the kids loved having her here too.

Landon turned four on February 14th. We had a great party at Chuck E. Cheese's with grandma, D.D., Ducky, Aunt Kerry, and a couple of grandma's friends from Michigan. Here are some recent pictures of Landon:



Our computer problems are preventing us from downloading more pictures, but we'll do so soon! Take care all.